Telling us where you are in Dulwich
Dulwich has clear landmarks. Say you are by Dulwich Picture Gallery, built between 1811 and 1814, in Dulwich Park, opened in 1890, or on College Road by the working tollgate that dates back to 1789. For four centuries Dulwich has been centred on the College of God's Gift. Dulwich Village itself remains very uncommercialised, which helps: name the road and the nearest junction.
What the homes are like, and what that means for the lock
Southwark Council says the buildings in the Dulwich Village conservation area run from the mid 18th century to the 21st: grand Georgian houses, Victorian and Edwardian terraces, 1930s family homes, 1960s architecture and recent developments. Toward Dulwich Wood and Sydenham Hill there are mid century housing estates. The Dulwich Estate still owns 1,500 acres in the area, including a number of private roads.
That spread means almost every kind of front door. Georgian and Victorian doors often carry a mortice lock and a nightlatch that can be repaired rather than replaced. Thirties houses may have a replacement uPVC or composite door, where a worn gearbox stops the handle lifting. See uPVC door lock problems.
Planning rules on front doors
Dulwich Village and Dulwich Wood are both on Southwark's list of conservation areas. In a conservation area, changes to a front door can need permission. A new lock is not a new door, but check with the council before you order a new one.
Common jobs
- Period front doors with worn nightlatches and mortice locks.
- Lockouts opened without damage where possible. See locked out: what to do.
- Thirties houses with a replacement uPVC or composite door and a tired gearbox.
- Lock changes after a move or a lost key.
Questions people ask
I live on a private estate road. Can you reach me? Tell us the road and how to get in, and we will plan for it before setting off.
Is Dulwich in Southwark or Lambeth? Mostly Southwark, with the western edge in Lambeth. The road name settles it, and it changes nothing about the price.
Nearby
We also cover Herne Hill, Sydenham and Camberwell.
All areas